NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1932, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION

CONCURRENCE EXPECTED

EXPLANATION BY MR. COATES

EXCELLENT LAMB SEASON

EXPORT ESTIMATE IN TONS

(By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night.

The keenest interest has been aroused in political circles concerning the London cable reporting Mr. Elliot’s statement in the House of Commons that Australia and New Zealand would probably agree to restrict exports of mutton and lamb by 10 per cent, almost immediately. Interviewed to-night, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, New Zealand delegate to Ottawa, said the Government was not in a position to announce anything, as it would not commit itself to any decision until after a conference with the Meat Board. The chairman of the board, Mr. David Jones, will reach Wellington from the south to-morrow morning, and the members will meet representatives of the Government.

It can be stated reliably, however, that the Government will agree to meet Great Britain, which is genuinely concerned about the glut of meat on the British market which is preventing any prospect of a rise in the wholesale price level. It is not likely that Mr. Elliot would have been so specific in the House of Commons had he not been reasonably assured that the Dominions would fall into line, and it is expected that New Zealand will agree to the proposals for the curtailment of shipments by 10 per cent in accordance with Britain’s re-. quest. The question of New exports of mutton, and- lamb was discussed in an interview by Mr. Coates to-night, when statements of exporters and pastoralists that the estimate of New Zealand’s meat exports for 1033 given to Britain in accordance with the Ottawa agreement might prove inadequate _in view of the exceptionally good lambing season were referred to him. It is not expected by many that New Zealand’s lamb export will fall much below last season’s record. Mr. Coates explained that the exports to Britain were estimated on a tonange and not a carcase basis, and if the number of mutton carcases were smaller in the coming season the same total export weight could be made up by heavier exports of lamb. He said New Zealand had undertaken to give early in each season to Britain an estimate of shipments of frozen mutton and lamb, and it was part of the agreement that New Zealand should keep within those figures. Referring to the effect of the low prices on the volume of exports, Mr. Coates said it was, of course, to be anticipated that any heavy fall in prices would result in a curtailment of supplies coming forward from foreign and British sources. The tendency must be to exclude the lower grade article and the cheapest product, for which receipts would probably not cover the cost of shipment and handling. The extent. to which low prices would affect supplies, and the effect of a reduction in Supplies on prices could not be gauged accurately at the moment.